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“Our communities have faced legal, structural, and social violence. But ROOTS shows we are not just resisting—we are building, this is about moving from survival to long-term strategy. It’s about changing systems.” said Richard Lusimbo, UKPC’s Director General reechoing the spirit of a movement that has consistently worked against erasure as long as Uganda itself has existed.
As powerfully put by keynote speaker Monalisa Akintole “We are not simply reacting to discrimination—we are dismantling the systems that enforce it. Through digital organizing, legal advocacy, and grassroots mobilization, this movement is designing a future where no one is forced to hide in the shadows. This is not just about LGBTQ rights, Trans rights, nor Sexworker rights —it is about fundamental human dignity.

The passage of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act (2023) only further legitimizes these violations. The Act not only criminalizes same-sex relationships but also codifies systemic violence including forced conversion therapies, life imprisonment, and the death penalty.
Under this legal regime, FAEs become tools of sexualized torture, used not to find truth, but to humiliate, dehumanize, and destroy. These acts are used in courts as “evidence,” a cruel irony considering their complete lack of scientific or forensic validity.
As Mutebi notes, this practice has become so normalized that it continues even in countries like Kenya, where courts have declared it unconstitutional. The 2018 Mombasa Court of Appeal ruling clearly stated that forced anal examinations violate constitutional rights to privacy, dignity, and protection from torture. And yet, they continue.

Activists, journalists, and human rights defenders, many of whom already navigate threats both online and offline now face the added burden of potential state surveillance. This not only curtails freedom of expression but also creates a chilling effect across civil society, pushing critical voices further into the shadows.
This tool’s arrival echoes a broader trend of digital authoritarianism on the continent, where surveillance is weaponized to suppress dissent. But resistance is possible. Civil society must push for transparency and legal safeguards that protect digital rights. International allies must hold governments accountable, and tech platforms must enhance protections for vulnerable users.

Uganda is already grappling with the devastating impact of the Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2023, which imposes severe penalties including the death sentence for consensual same-sex relations. The law has not only legitimized discrimination and hate, but also emboldened ordinary citizens and state actors alike to act with impunity against LGBTQ+ people. In this environment, Muhoozi’s words are not empty; they are fuel to an already raging fire.

While we acknowledge this legal victory, we remain concerned about the broader climate of persecution and criminalization facing LGBTQ+ individuals and organizations in Uganda. This case serves as a stark reminder that advocating for LGBTQ+ rights in Uganda remains a high-risk endeavor. The continued targeting of our community through misinformation, fabricated charges, arbitrary arrests, and legal harassment is an attempt to silence us.

In Uganda and across the African continent, discriminatory laws continue to threaten the safety, dignity, and freedoms of women. The Anti-Homosexuality Act, the Sexual Offenses Bill, and the Marriage Bill are all part of a legal system designed to control, police, and exclude certain groups of women from enjoying their fundamental rights. These laws not only violate international human rights standards but also reinforce patriarchal systems that dictate who is worthy of protection and who is not.

Share your lived experiences, advocacy work, or creative expressions to highlight resilience and inspire action. Submissions should be emailed to [email protected] by March 15, 2025. Help us amplify the voices of those most affected and shape the path toward an AIDS-free future!

The ramifications of this directive extend beyond LGBTI+ organizations. Civil society as a whole, particularly human rights defenders, women’s rights groups, and organizations advocating for marginalized communities, could all be at risk. The directive’s broad language around “ideological projects” and “national interest” raises concerns about selective enforcement and potential retaliation against groups whose missions do not align with conservative agendas.

As we mourn the loss of Imaam Muhsin Hendricks, we must also reflect on the broader fight for LGBTQ+ rights, recognizing that legal reforms are only one part of the struggle. True safety and acceptance demand societal change, including within religious communities.